Bleep/DreamPort nasal mask review thread

[booksfan]

After all this, I actually do have a question. You said the venting was quiet. Does it blow air across your face, specifically your eyes? Thanks!

I think that this has been covered well, but I wanted to chime in.

The air blows straight down the hose... but even that bothered me, so I rigged up a temporary diffuser, and now it doesn't blow anywhere.

If you don't get the tapes on properly, then it is possible for a *little* air to make it up past them and be felt on your eyes, but it's a very slight amount, and that's only if you don't get the tape on right.

Thank you! And thank you for posting the picture of how you rigged the temporary diffuser! I was wondering how you did that. Not having the Bleep YET (I have preordered and can't wait!!), I was having trouble trying to visualize how that would work. I even have spare filters ready to go. Y'all's reviews have me chomping at the bit...I really think this will be the mask for me.

[Grace~~~]

I am so HAPPY for you, Pugsy, that you found a mask you can LOVE!

I've been in sales my entire life and it is always fun to watch new salespeople struggle trying to NOT sound like a salesperson and watching them call themselves every sort of euphemism, (consultant, facilitator, etc.) that they can conjure. I embraced being a salesman decades ago. No shame. I didn't even bat an eye when I was called a salesslut as long as the big money kept rolling in (20x+ more than the people calling me that made each week) ... but seeing your reaction to such an insult did make me giggle.

This BLEEP mask sounds really great. I've developed puffiness around my eyes that absolutely coincided with using CPAP but of course I have simultaneous been getting older too. I just "dealt" with it because I WANT to use the CPAP. In my person history, this puffiness is pretty minor considering the other challenges I now face. However, if I were to try something and that went away? ... I'd be HOOKED!

~~~IDEA~~~

The disposable ports are a bit expensive, but the adhesive tape itself is probably not too bad. I would think that there could be another sheet of "patch strips" for those times when the seal was not perfect for whatever reason?

Perhaps 1/8 inch by 3/4 inch strips that you could peel off and fix a little leak blowing by the eye or maybe you could re-wipe with alcohol an area that came loose and "patch" with an emergency strip? Clearly, you don't want to be wasting an entire "dream port" for a small leak.

~~~just an idea.

Also, KTEAGUE thanks for bringing back the SeaBreeze memories. I used to buy the stuff by the gallon in the 1980's and 90's. I wiped my entire body with it in the sticky south as it felt so refreshing and I used to love the smell. Also, I lived life in a micro bikini and wanted ALL my skin perfect. LOL

I still use straight alcohol on my face now. I can't even comprehend what sounds "scary" to folks with dry skin as I've never felt that sensation? I'm guessing *I* might have some issues getting the dreamport to adhere ... we'll see?

What excites *me* the most is to see my leak chart wearing this mask. I really want to compare it to the dreamwear and see what the data shows. It definitely seems that everyone should have one of these masks in their collection for diagnostic purposes at the very least. ... and THE BLEEP will no doubt become THE ONE for many!

*I* LOVE innovation~~~

[Pugsy]

The disposable ports are a bit expensive, but the adhesive tape itself is probably not too bad. I would think that there could be another sheet of "patch strips" for those times when the seal was not perfect for whatever reason?

Perhaps 1/8 inch by 3/4 inch strips that you could peel off and fix a little leak blowing by the eye or maybe you could re-wipe with alcohol an area that came loose and "patch" with an emergency strip? Clearly, you don't want to be wasting an entire "dream port" for a small leak.

Actually what I do is use the trimmed off pieces as a patch if I think something doesn't look quite right or if I wake up and it's really bad loose I might just stick several of those little pieces over the loose area. So far though I haven't had that big of a failure of the adhesive even when I didn't follow directions.

I don't use the entire oval adhesive strip....I trim about 1/3 of it off and leave it on the paper. If I get a boo boo I just remove those still stuck to the paper little strips and patch it over the boo boo. One night I accidentally got a wrinkle putting the port on the nostril and I just stuck on of the little cut off snippets over the wrinkle and it held all night just fine.

I will see if I can get a picture of how much I trim off...it's a good chunk of it.. I don't need all that much adhesive.
Now if I had a gorilla nose...I would probably need it but most people will be able to trim off a bit and save those little bits for boo boos.

[kteague]

Glad the Sea Breeze mention has conjured up some memories for a couple of you.

Pugsy, thanks for the tip on building a stash of patches. I've been putting the trimmed pieces on for reinforcement, not thinking I should save them for if needed.

[palerider]

Some one made the comment that my review sounded like a commercial

Well, in all fairness, that *was* a troll that said that.

What I fail to understand is why you can't be happy for me doing the same and finding a mask that I am really happy with. Why do you want to rain on my happiness parade? I certainly won't be going out of my way to rain on your happiness.

Again, troll.

[palerider]

After all this, I actually do have a question. You said the venting was quiet. Does it blow air across your face, specifically your eyes? Thanks!

I think that this has been covered well, but I wanted to chime in.

The air blows straight down the hose... but even that bothered me, so I rigged up a temporary diffuser, and now it doesn't blow anywhere.

If you don't get the tapes on properly, then it is possible for a *little* air to make it up past them and be felt on your eyes, but it's a very slight amount, and that's only if you don't get the tape on right.

Thank you! And thank you for posting the picture of how you rigged the temporary diffuser! I was wondering how you did that. Not having the Bleep YET (I have preordered and can't wait!!), I was having trouble trying to visualize how that would work. I even have spare filters ready to go. Y'all's reviews have me chomping at the bit...I really think this will be the mask for me.

When Pugsy swore me to secrecy and told me she was testing out the Bleep, I was still thinking it was a bit silly, but she was loving it, then she asked if I wanted to try it out, and I thought "sure, I'll see what I can find wrong with it" I mean, nothing's perfect. But, I wanted to be *fair* in my evaluation, not just try it for one night and say "naw".

The venting was one thing that bothered me, ever since the first diffused vent mask I got my hands on (the pilairo q with it's snap on diffuser) I haven't wanted anything with an undiffused vent. That's part of why I've stayed with the P10 for so many years... the fact that the air just 'goes away'.

There's various ways to diffuse the air from this, Stuart sent me a picture where he'd taken a loop of cloth and twisted it into a figure eight, and looped it through the center of the body, and over the two vent areas, but I'd already stuck my filter on there, and it's been working well.

IMG_20190219_122351009.jpg

IMG_20190219_122437527.jpg

[Okie bipap]

It's not my job to turn a full face mask user...who is totally happy with their mask (or any other mask for that matter) into a nasal mask user trying the Bleep. If someone is totally happy with their mask, whatever it is, then more power to you. I won't be throwing any stones are snide remarks at you for doing so. I am happy you are happy. What I fail to understand is why you can't be happy for me doing the same and finding a mask that I am really happy with. Why do you want to rain on my happiness parade? I certainly won't be going out of my way to rain on your happiness.

I'm glad for you. Actually, I am jealous. I wish I could find a mask I was as enthusiastic about. I have found a mask that works for me, but I really can't say I like it. I have tried nasal pillows and a nasal cushion (dreamwear) in the past but could never make them work for me. I cannot get a good seal with my tongue and keep it long enough to sleep. As soon as I fall asleep, I lose the seal and it wakes me up when the air blows out of my mouth. I had the same problem when I was first tested over twenty years ago. At that time, the choice of masks was limited compared to today. I opted for surgery (UPPP, septoplasty and turbinate reduction), and that may be a factor in my inability to use nasal pillows.

[prodigyplace]

Pugsy likes as little as possible on the face.



from https://www.directhomemedical.com/start ... erapy.html

[palerider]

Pugsy likes as little as possible on the face.
*noise*

Since you have nothing worthwhile to contribute, as usual, why don't you just not post at all?

[Dog Slobber]

Some one made the comment that my review sounded like a commercial and made a point to mention the baseball reference.

[snip]

I saw that comment and right off the bat I thought, wow did that ever come out of left field. Maybe if he was on the ball he would step up to the plate some time instead of being so bush-league.

I appreciate your review, I appreciated that even though you still don't have the exact price you were willing to give us a ball park figure. I think with the Bleeps it's going to be a whole new ball game, though with many they'll be hit or miss.

It's especially encouraging to see positive reviews from CPAPTalk's own murderers' row, I'm thinking this new mask might be right in my wheelhouse.

Thanks for the reviews.

[Pugsy]

Pugsy likes as little as possible on the face.

Yep....and I tried the Provent thing some years back. Have you ever tried it?
Horrid experience for me but it works for some people. Long time ago promoted as OSA therapy...not so much now because it is far from effective and a bitch to get to stick on the nose and it ain't cheap either and extremely difficult to exhale against the pressure and if you can't exhale against the pressure it's useless because it is the PEEP that half way will hold the airway open.

[Pugsy]

I saw that comment and right off the bat I thought, wow did that ever come out of left field. Maybe if he was on the ball he would step up to the plate some time instead of being so bush-league.

There is always going to be people who just can't seem to think of anything to say except some snide comment and "they are totally frigging happy with what ever they are using and see no reason to change"...and never mind that I didn't ask them to change.
I just consider the source and shrug my shoulders and privately make a mental note about that person that isn't particularly flattering.

But hey....they can bring it on...every time someone makes a smart ass remark insinuating that they are so superior...all it does is bump my thread to the top of the main page and I get a free bump.

My job with this review....state my experience and answer questions. It is NOT supposed to be me attempting to get people to change to anything they don't want to change to. I really don't care what mask anyone uses and I certainly would never tell a full face mask user who is happy with what they are using that they should change masks simply because I happen to like it.
But by the same token those FFM users shouldn't be trying to tell me what to do either. I am perfectly capable of making my own decisions.

Oh well...maybe someday I will get a chance to rain on their parade and catch me in a bad mood and probably will do it.
I don't ever forget being slighted...never ever forget and I do tend to hold a grudge forever. Just like that proverbial elephant.
I don't get mad....I get even.

[palerider]

I saw that comment and right off the bat I thought, wow did that ever come out of left field. Maybe if he was on the ball he would step up to the plate some time instead of being so bush-league.

There is always going to be people who just can't seem to think of anything to say except some snide comment and "they are totally frigging happy with what ever they are using and see no reason to change"...and never mind that I didn't ask them to change.

As I said somewhere else, "it's quite easy to whip it out and piss all over a new idea, it's a lot harder to sit back and actually THINK about it".

[Pugsy]

A word about fixing up a homemade diffuser...
The very first night I just taped a single layer of gauze over the vent holes. A bit ugly but I was wanting function and not a beauty contest and if any of you guys have ever tried to tape anything to the silicone....not easy. Nothing wants to stick.
A single layer of gauze will do the job...but it was ugly and despite my not seeing ugly with my eyes closed...I knew it was there so I removed it after a couple of nights and was planning on trying to pretty it up a little.

Got side tracked and didn't the 3rd night and that's when I learned that the venting without any diffusion wasn't all that horrible to me.
Remember my pressures rarely get over 10 and when it happens I am usually in REM. Sound asleep...never know it happens.
Fast forward to a couple of weeks or so ago when Palerider mentioned what he did with the ResMed filter...great idea and we all have some sort of filter laying around.
Unfortunately all I can seem to find in my ResMed bag of goodies are hypoallergenic filters and those are way too dense as I would be afraid of actually totally blocking the vents if it got stuck up against the holes.
But I did find a PR S1 Respironics white fine filter and even though smaller in size...decided to try it.
It barely is big enough but it can be done... fuzzy side next to holes...slick side away from holes and to the outside.
It will work but barely....I know I have some of the regular mesh type of ResMed filters around here somewhere...just gotta find them.

You can use anything that is porous and you can stick it next to the holes without totally blocking the air movement through the material.
You don't want to seal off the holes...that's a no no.

A single layer of gauze will work too. Doesn't have to be anything fancy. Palerider's filter idea...so darn simple. Wish I had thought of it.

Again...the venting won't ever go up on your face anywhere unless the air stream is bouncing off something. It just can't make that 180 degree angle without something deflecting it.

[djams]

I've used the word "DreamPort" a lot in this review, you may have gotten tired of seeing it. It's because I really feel like calling it a mask is doing it a disservice. It isn't a mask at all - it's the anti-mask. Something all together new.

Maybe it should be an "Air Delivery Device" instead of a mask

Yes! Something like that. I spent awhile trying to come up with alternative names. Best I could do was "leak free human to cpap interface"

How 'bout the 'Bleepin nose hose!'

I'll give you an "A" for creativity!

I'm gonna get in trouble, I just know it.

I think you oughta run out and trademark these names you're coming up with.